Phandalin The Valelands & The Nerath Timeline The current year for our Valelands campaign is set during the year 103AE. Inspired By Gary Gygax

Phandalin is mainly human populated settlement located in the farthest reaches of south-east Nentir Vale that has enjoyed much prosperity in the last decade. It was raided by orcs in 22AE and subsequently abandoned. It was eventually resettled in 60AE as a frontier settlement of farmers and prospectors. Phandalin is a modest and quiet town of farmers, woodcutters, trappers, and miners built atop the ruins of old Phandalin. The settlement quickly grew to about fifty well-maintained structures built of stone, lumber and flagstones with three deep wells providing water.

It was eventually resettled, however, and Phandalin became a frontier settlement of farmers and prospectors looking for wealth in the Briar Hills and Dawnforge Mountains to the north. Years ago, Phandalin was originally just a farming community but has simply evolved into what it is today.

However, when Orcs destroyed most of the game in the region, they went in search of food and turned on the human settlements in the area, raiding them. Phandalin was one of these settlements, it was eventually overrun and abandoned.

After a well known book writer passed through the area and wrote about it, the area experienced an influx of tourists and adventurers. Some time later, settlers resettled the ruins of Phandalin, and re-established the location. Later, a group of bandits known as the Redbrands, "or the Redbrand Ruffians", settled in Phandalin, and made their lair beneath Tresendar Manor.

They committed several terrible acts, such as killing the woodcarver, Thel Dendrar, for his defiance, and later kidnapping his family. These ruffians remain a problem within Phandalin and the surrounding area.

Phandalin has a standing functioning government, with the ruling authority being the townmaster, Harbin Wester, a human male noble. The townsmaster serves as a judge and mediator, and also keeps the records that needed to be kept. For the most part, with the Redbrands residing within Phandalin, the townmaster is nothing more than a figurehead, being unable to do much of anything to stop the Redbrands.

Phandalin has three deep wells that are always well maintained around the clock. The average population of the village of Phandalin is around 500-600 folk. This depends entirely on the season of trade through this quiet settlement, with it increasing slightly during the summer months while decreasing slightly during the winter months.

Phandalin also has a small standing local militia "around a half dozen strong" that were appointed by the townmaster to protect this settlement which so far the militia has not been successful. The militia once stood at over a dozen, but due to the Redbrands those numbers have somewhat shrunk.

Local people, living around the area of Phandalin can be expected to know the following information about the area: The original Phandalin town established and ruled by the Tresendar family for a number of generations until it was raided and destroyed by bandits about five centuries ago. The town was abandoned afterwards. Frontiersmen from the surrounding region settled the new town about a decade previous as a spot for miners to operate from when searching the Ashkeeper Peaks.

The town of Phandalin is too isolated and insignificant to be known by most people of the region. Only those who have been there themselves or know somebody who has spent significant time there will have any general or specific knowledge of the place. The town has no real value other than its local farmers and miners and governs itself under governmental system, the settlement has learned to fend for itself in recent years.

Places of Interest
• Stonehill Inn
• Alger's Metalworks
• Amberfoot Patisserie Shoppe
• Barthen's Provisions
• Barthen's Home
• Miner's Exchange
• Market Square
• Edermath Orchard
• Halia's Home
• Sister Garaele's Home
• Alderleaf Farm
• Temple of Avandra
• Linene's Home
• Shrine to Rudd
• Moneychanger's Shop
• Danley and Sons Inn
• Townmaster's Office
• Harbin Wester's Home
• Woodworker Shop
• Sleeping Giant
• Lionshield Coster

Regional Locations
• Tresendar Manor

For a long while, adventurers explored this region but after a time, they just stopped coming. It seemed that no monsters were left to slay, and no evil existed here to be stamped out. The villagers heaved a collective sigh—some pained at the loss of income, but others relieved by the return to the quiet, normal life—and Phandalin continued its quiet existence for four years more.

But then, a year ago, the Redbrands began to ride the roads — not frequently, but to some effect, they eventually settled in Phandalin. To the good folk of Phandalin, this seemed all too familiar, so they sent word with hopes of drawing heroes to the region to once again calm the region.

This information has been spread throughout the countryside, and the news has attracted outsiders to the village once again although slowly. Who and what these men are, no one can be quite sure. All claim to be bent on slaying monsters and bringing peace and security to Phandalin, but deeds speak more loudly than words, and lies cloak the true purposes of the malevolent.

This settlements community is made up of friendly folk but they always seem to have their guard up during these troubling times. These people understand that the presense of these Redbrands, orcs and goblins that have taken up residence in the region recently might cause them to be forced to defend themselves but regardless, life goes on and even though they stand knowing of the dangers that lurk nearby, these people still live a normal life "for the most part".

The climate tends to be cool during the summer, not overly humid but winters are usually very cold with much snowfall in this region. Farming and "some" hunting are common trades of the region, along with the mining that has picked up in the area. Exports mostly consist of foodstuffs from the surrounding farms along with meat from hunting within the surrounding area.

People of Interest
• Harbin Wester
• Sildar Hallwinter
• Gundren Rockseeker
• Sister Garaele
• Halia Thornton
• Daran Edermath
• Linene Graywind
• Qelline Alderleaf

Government
The townmaster of Phandalin, Harbin Wester, is from the city of Hardby which lies north of Phandalin. Folks around Phandalin are not all that happy with the townmaster's authority, and they have found answering to the laws of the current lord very hard to accept. Townmaster Harbin Wester is telling the citizens of Phandalin that he is doing his best to protect this settlement, but in reality, Wester is trying to keep a low profile and stay as clear of the Redbrands as he possibly can.

Harbin Wester approved the local militia to be formed "which is overseen by the Sergeant of the Watch. Phandalin has a small group of soldiers who perform guard and police functions in and around the settlement, but always seem to stay clear of the Redbrands. The guards patrol in pairs and the townmaster basically keeps the town guard on a tight leash so as to not incur the wrath of the Redbrands.

Harbin Wester has no real power anymore with Phandalin. Now, he is nothing more than townmaster - "in name only". Most people who live within Phandalin have lost all faith in Wester's ability to protect them.

Festivals & Events
Phandalin once held frequent festivals such as the Midwinter Solstice Festival, feasts, and fairs throughout the year, and also the midsummer Peachiest Pie bake-off was held during this celebration. The festivals would also have other random events and contests that changed from year to year depending on popularity. But with the recent troubles, the festivals have not been held for over a year.